4 charged in fraternity pledge hazing death to plead guilty

Four men charged in connection with a brutal fraternity hazing ritual that killed a New York City college student are due in a Pennsylvania court to plead guilty.

In this October 22, 2015, file photo, Sheldon Wong leaves court after being arraigned on murder charges in Pocono Pines, Pa. Wong and three others charged in connection with a fraternity hazing ritual that killed Chun "Michael" Deng, a student at Baruch College in New York City, were scheduled to plead guilty Monday, May 15, 2017, to unspecified charges.

Baruch College permanently banned Pi Delta Psi. "We've had this case now for nearly three full years".

CNN reached out to the attorneys for the other three men, but did not hear back.

The former fraternity brothers, now in their mid- to late 20s, were stoic in court and said nothing to reporters.

She said Kwan was the last brother to tackle Deng.

Four of the brothers who directly attacked Deng were charged with homicide and assault, while others, including Ka-Wing Yuen, were charged with hazing and hindering prosecution and conspiracy charges for both offenses. "Mr. Deng did not stand up after that moment", Metzger said, according to the Associated Press.

Three fraternity members drove Deng to a Pennsylvania hospital early in the morning, authorities said.

The fraternity members brought Deng inside the house where they changed his clothes and searched information online about his symptoms, prosecutors said. Deng was then carried inside unconscious. Fraternity members then took him to a hospital.

They were among 37 fraternity members who were arrested soon after Deng, also of Queens, died of head injuries received in a pledging ritual known as "the glass ceiling".

Autopsy results showed that Deng suffered numerous blows to the body and blunt-force trauma to the head.

"Above all Michael Deng was a friend and Sheldon remains deeply saddened by his unintended death", Brill said.

Kwan, Lai, Lam, and Wong were all originally charged in a grand jury presentment with seven criminal counts, including third-degree murder and involuntary manslaughter. Their sentencing is set for December 4.

Dozens of other people are facing less serious charges and the fraternity itself was charged with murder, the AP said.

Deng family attorney Doug Fierberg said the guilty pleas were "a long time coming". "They will continue to pursue justice until each and every one of these young men and the fraternity are held responsible for this tragedy".

"Michael was a devoted, bright and loving son, and nothing can undo or lessen the crushing heartbreak of losing our only child to fraternity hazing", the statement reads.